Could a spiraling tower made of stacked shipping containers solve Mumbai’s housing crisis?

CRG Architects have proposed an interesting solution to Mumbai's chronic housing shortage with two slightly twisting cylinder-shaped towers made of stacked shipping containers. Both structures, called "Containscrapers," would respond to specific site topologies and provide more facade surface to all living units by rotating the position of the containers by 90 degrees.

By following the cylindrical shape of the main tower volume, the shipping containers change position and provide multiple views of the site, while allowing for natural ventilation. This natural air flow helps to remove and decrease the amount of heat in each container. The fortification-inspired circular floor plans allow the inhabitants to feel secure and protected. The containers constituting the core of the tower are positioned vertically, allowing elevator units to be housed in one of each of the containers in an upright position.

Vertical gardens would be distributed along the height of the building. These green patches separate individual units and help dissipate heat produced by high temperatures experienced during hot summers in Mumbai. The facade is colored to represent heating rates for each side of the tower, depending on their orientation.

One thought on “Could a spiraling tower made of stacked shipping containers solve Mumbai’s housing crisis?”

From a core of 28 elevators there seem to be more "bridges"connecting to the individual units than there are units. And then there is the perimeter circulation along the units.... The units are tiny compared to the overall floor space devoted to circulation.